diff --git a/plugins/module_utils/podman/podman_image_lib.py b/plugins/module_utils/podman/podman_image_lib.py
index 1e07925..d149ca8 100644
--- a/plugins/module_utils/podman/podman_image_lib.py
+++ b/plugins/module_utils/podman/podman_image_lib.py
@@ -569,11 +569,27 @@ class PodmanImageManager:
         """Ensure image is present (pull or build if needed)."""
         image = self.find_image()
 
+        # Get digest before any operations
+        digest_before = None
+        if image:
+            inspect_data = self.inspector.inspect_image(self.repository.full_name)
+            if inspect_data and len(inspect_data) > 0:
+                digest_before = inspect_data[0].get("Digest") or inspect_data[0].get("digest")
+                # If Digest is not available, try to get from RepoDigests
+                if not digest_before:
+                    repo_digests = inspect_data[0].get("RepoDigests", [])
+                    if repo_digests:
+                        # Extract digest from first RepoDigest (format: repo@sha256:...)
+                        for repo_digest in repo_digests:
+                            if "@" in repo_digest:
+                                digest_before = repo_digest.split("@", 1)[1]
+                                break
+
         if not image or self._should_rebuild_image(image):
             if self.params.get("state") == "build" or self.params.get("path"):
                 self._build_image()
             else:
-                self._pull_image()
+                self._pull_image(digest_before)
 
         if self.params.get("push"):
             self._push_image()
@@ -611,7 +627,7 @@ class PodmanImageManager:
         self.results["changed"] = True
         self.results["actions"].append(f"Built image {self.repository.full_name} from {path or 'context'}")
 
-    def _pull_image(self):
+    def _pull_image(self, digest_before=None):
         """Pull an image."""
         if not self.params.get("pull", True):
             self.module.fail_json(msg=f"Image {self.repository.full_name} not found locally and pull is disabled")
@@ -623,8 +639,27 @@ class PodmanImageManager:
             self.results["image"] = self.inspector.inspect_image(self.repository.full_name)
             self.results["podman_actions"].append(podman_command)
 
-        self.results["changed"] = True
-        self.results["actions"].append(f"Pulled image {self.repository.full_name}")
+            # Check if digest actually changed
+            digest_after = None
+            if self.results["image"] and len(self.results["image"]) > 0:
+                digest_after = self.results["image"][0].get("Digest") or self.results["image"][0].get("digest")
+                # If Digest is not available, try to get from RepoDigests
+                if not digest_after:
+                    repo_digests = self.results["image"][0].get("RepoDigests", [])
+                    if repo_digests:
+                        # Extract digest from first RepoDigest (format: repo@sha256:...)
+                        for repo_digest in repo_digests:
+                            if "@" in repo_digest:
+                                digest_after = repo_digest.split("@", 1)[1]
+                                break
+
+            changed = digest_before != digest_after
+            self.results["changed"] = changed
+            if changed:
+                self.results["actions"].append(f"Pulled image {self.repository.full_name}")
+        else:
+            self.results["changed"] = True
+            self.results["actions"].append(f"Pulled image {self.repository.full_name}")
 
     def _push_image(self):
         """Push an image."""
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/podman_image/tasks/main.yml b/tests/integration/targets/podman_image/tasks/main.yml
index e142492..80668cb 100644
--- a/tests/integration/targets/podman_image/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/podman_image/tasks/main.yml
@@ -589,6 +589,7 @@
     - include_tasks: additional_tests.yml
 
     - include_tasks: test_issue_947.yml
+    - include_tasks: test_issue_981.yml
 
   always:
     - name: Cleanup images
diff --git a/tests/integration/targets/podman_image/tasks/test_issue_981.yml b/tests/integration/targets/podman_image/tasks/test_issue_981.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..faa70ae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/integration/targets/podman_image/tasks/test_issue_981.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+---
+# Test for issue #981: podman_image with force=true should be idempotent
+# https://github.com/containers/ansible-podman-collections/issues/981
+
+- name: Test issue  # 981 - Remove alpine image if exists
+  containers.podman.podman_image:
+    executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
+    name: docker.io/library/alpine
+    tag: latest
+    state: absent
+  ignore_errors: true
+
+- name: Test issue  # 981 - Pull alpine image first time
+  containers.podman.podman_image:
+    executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
+    name: docker.io/library/alpine
+    tag: latest
+  register: issue_981_pull1
+
+- name: Test issue  # 981 - Pull alpine with force=true (same digest, should not change)
+  containers.podman.podman_image:
+    executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
+    name: docker.io/library/alpine
+    tag: latest
+    force: true
+  register: issue_981_pull2
+
+- name: Test issue  # 981 - Pull alpine with force=true again (same digest, should not change)
+  containers.podman.podman_image:
+    executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
+    name: docker.io/library/alpine
+    tag: latest
+    force: true
+  register: issue_981_pull3
+
+- name: Test issue  # 981 - Verify force=true idempotency
+  assert:
+    that:
+      - issue_981_pull1 is changed
+      - issue_981_pull1.actions | length > 0
+      - "'Pulled image' in issue_981_pull1.actions[0]"
+      - issue_981_pull2 is not changed
+      - issue_981_pull2.actions | length == 0
+      - issue_981_pull3 is not changed
+      - issue_981_pull3.actions | length == 0
+    fail_msg: "Issue #981 not fixed: force=true is not idempotent when digest hasn't changed"
+    success_msg: "Issue #981 fixed: force=true is idempotent when digest hasn't changed"
+
+- name: Test issue  # 981 - Cleanup
+  containers.podman.podman_image:
+    executable: "{{ test_executable | default('podman') }}"
+    name: docker.io/library/alpine
+    tag: latest
+    state: absent